shely



W. AuSHELY'. MACHINE FOR TREATING 'OR BREAKING AND SCUTCHING HEMP OR OTHER FIBROUS MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED .IUNE I2, I919.

Patented Mar. 21,1922;

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I II :I I I II II H II II {I n I i- (D II II {I I w. A, SHELY. MACHINE FOR TREATING 0R BREAKING AND SCUTCHING HEMP OR OTHER FIBROUS MATERIAL.

APPLICATION'HLED JUNE 12. 1919.

1,410,416, I Patented Mar. 21,' 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

w. A. SHELY. MACHINE FOR TREATING 0R BREAKING AND SCUTCHING HEMP OR OTHER FIBRO'US MATERIAL.

APPLICATION HL-ED JUNE I2, 1919.

Patented Mar. 21, 1922.

. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UMP.

can

WILLIAM A. sirnriv, or'onroaeo, ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR TREATING OR BREAKING AND SC'U'TCT-IING HEMP OR OTHER FIBROUS MATERIAL,

innie.

Patented Mar. 21, i922.

Original application filed July 1, 1918, Serial No. 242,888. Divided and this application filed June 12, 1919. Serial No. 303,608.

ToaZZ cola/omit may concern: 1

Be it known that I, VIILLiAM A. SHELY, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chica o, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinverited certain new and'useful Improvements in Machines for Treating or Breaking and Scutching Hemp or other Fibrous Material. I

This invention relates to that class of ma chines for breaking and scutching or treating hemp or other fibrous material, havingv a break-bar or a plurality of break-bars adapted to engage hemp orfibrous material to be operated upon, and provided with beater mechanism adapted to operate upon and break and scutch or treat and clean hemp or fibrous material fed into position to be engaged bysuch brealcbars, or fibersupporting element and beater mechanism;

The principal object of the invention is t provide a simple, economical and efficient machine for breaking and scutching or treating and cleaning hemp or other fibrous material; and one of thepurposes of the invention is to provide such a machine with beater mechanism adapted to enable the material operated upon to be struck with the desired degree, of force and by means of beater-bars or beater members moving in the desired direction with respect to a the fibrous material, and to enable the beaterbars, blades or beater members by-means of which the scutching or cleaning of the fibrous material is accomplished, or by means of which the breaking and scutchingof such material is accomplished, to engage and move lengthwise of and in engagement with.

the fibrous material in sucha manner as to scutch and clean or remove the hurds or from ,the outer fibres in an efiicient manner, v

and, by a continuous and' uninterrupted movement of the beater-bars substantially, longitudinally of and in frictional engagement with the fibers or fibrous material for the desired distance lengthwise of the stalks or fibers, and, by preference, with beaterbars simultaneously on in rapid alternation, lIl scutching engagement with the stalks or fibers on opposite sides of the same, so as to flex the fibers to the desired extent without injury thereto and thoroughly scutch and clean the same, the breaking and scutching being progressive lengthwise of the stalks, and both carried 011 at the same time.

Other and further objects of the invention will appear from the following description and claims, and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof.

The invention consists in the features, combinations, and construction and arrangement of parts and cooperating elements here in described and claimed.

7 In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is aview in side elevation, of a machine constructed'in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2, is a plan view of the same, with a front portion of the feed table broken away, and with other parts of the machine broken awayat the central portion of the machine, 1e llfil'lSJGISG parts which are shown broken,

,icing of much greater length than. that l 1 slmwn in said figure, in proportion to the length ofthemachine from front to rear;

Fig. 3, is a view in centrallongitudinal vertical section, taken on line 3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. a

This application is-a division of a pending allowed application Serial No. 2-12.888,

filed July 1, I918, by me and in my name, for an improvement in machines for treating or breaking and-scutching hemp or other fibrous materiah'and subject matter of invention herein described and not claimed will be found described. and claimed in said application.

In construz-ting a machine for breaking and scutching or treating hemp or other fibrous material, in accordance with my invention I provide a main frame which may as of any desired suitable form, and, when constructed as shown in the accompanying drawings, comprises main longitudinal side frame members 1. 2, transverse frame members 3, upright side-frame members 4, 5, 6 and 7, on one side of the machine, and corresponding upright side-frame members 8, 9, 10 and 11 on the opposite side, the side frame members 4 and 8 being directly opposite each other, the side-frame members and 9 being directly opposite each other, frame-members 6 and 10 being directly opposite each other and back of the members 5 and 9, and the members 7 and 1.1 being directly opposite each other at the rear portion of the main frame, all of said frame members being rigidly secured together and made of suitable material, such as metal or wood-preferably metala-nd forming a strong and rigid frame capable of supporting the movable parts of the machine and of withstanding the shocks and strains to which the machine is subjected when'in operation.

Mounted at or near the forward extremity of the machine is a pair of parallel breakbars 12 and 13 which are in superposed relation and extend transversely and, by preference. horizontally across the machine, said break-bars being spaced apart, so as to provide a space 14 therebetween adapted to permit hemp stalks or stalks of fibrous material to be Operated upon to be fed into position to extend between and in engagement with the bottom fiber engaging or stalk-breaking margin or edge 1 of the upper break-bar'12, and the upper fiber-engaging or stalk-breaking edge 16 of the lower break-bar 13. (See Figs 1 and 3.) The break-bars 12 and 13 are supported at their opposite ends by suitable supporting means. such, for instance, as the upright side frame members 4 and S, to which the corresponding ends of said break-bars are secured in any desired ordinary or suitable manner, but, by preference in such a manner as to permit the break bars to be adjusted with respect to each other, as well as upward and downward and forward and backward. each independently, to any desired adjusted position upon the machine frame. This may be accomplished in a simple and efficient manner by mounting each end of each of the break-bars 12 and 13, upon and in horizontally adjustable relation to a vertically adjustable supporting member 17, the vertically adjustable break-bar supporting members 17 each being secured to and in vertically adjustable relation to a suitable stationary support such, for instance, as the adjacent upright side frame member 4 or 8 or similar suitable support. The vertically adjustable supporting members 17 are each provided with one or more vertically elongated slots 18 through which extend horizontal screws or bolts 19 which are an ehored in the adjacent stationary supporting frame member, such as the adjacent frame member 4 or 8 on the corresponding side of the machine. Each of said breakbars is provided with an angular end portion 20 extending forward with respect to the main body of the bar and in adjustable or slidable engagement with the adjacent corresponding break-bar-supporting member 17, and has a plurality of horizontally elongated slots disposed longitudinally of the machine frame and in superposed relation to each other in each of said angular end portions 20. And each of said slots 21 has a securing screw or bolt 22 extending horiz'ontally therethrough, each of said bolts or screws being anchored in the corresponding adjacent vertically adjustable bar-supporting member 17. y'providing each of the vertically adjustable bar-supporting members 17 with suitable teeth or serrations, or shoulders 23 in superposed relation to each other, and providing a tooth-engaging shoulder or teeth 24 upon an adjacentstationary part, such, for instance, as the stationary supporting member upon which such vertically adjustable member 17 'is mounted, the members 17 may be rigidly secured in any desired adjusted position, so as to form a strong and rigid support'for the break bars in any desired position to which the latter are ada ted to be moved or adjusted. (See Fig. 1.

Mounted forward of the break-bars 12 and 13 is a pair of initial feeding rollers 25, 26 which are arranged in horizontal position and in superposed parallel relation to each other and transversely with respect to the machine frame, the bottom of the upper roller 26 being, by preference, normally below the level of the bottom fiber engaging or stalk-breaking edge or margin 15 or lower rear edge of the upper break-bar 12, and as high as is necessary to permit stalks of fibrous material to be fed between said roller and between and in position to be engaged and broken by or against the stalk-breaking margins or edges 15 and 16 of said breakbars, with the stalks, by preference, in approximately horizontal position or in perpendicular relation to an imaginary line drawn from the stalk-breaking margin 15 to the stalk-breaking margin or edge 16 of the break-bars, between which the stalks are tb be fed transversely with respect to the break bars.

The feeding rollers 25, 26 are, by preference, made of flexible material, such as rubber, or a composition containing flexible material, or of resilient material such as spring metal, the body portions of said rollers he ing mounted upon suitable axles 27, 28 which are journaled in suitable bearings in the main frame.

The axle of the bottom roller 26 is shown .mounted in suitable bearings in the form of "I feed roller bearing blocks 29, one of said blocks being mounted in a vertical slotnot shownin the side frame member t and the other of said blocks being mounted in the bottom of a similar vertically elongated slot 31 in the opposite side frame member 8. The axle of the upper feed roller 25 is journaled in vertically slidable bearing blocks 32, 32 located directly over the corresponding bearing blocks 29, one of the bearing blocks 82 being slidably mounted in the slot 30 in the in position, so as to permitthe upper feeding roller 25 to be pressed upward against the tension of the springs 33 by stalks of fibrous material as the latter are fed endwise between aiid transversely with respect to the rollers and between the break-bars. rollers 25 and 26 are provided with spur gears 36, 37, the gear 36 being in fixed relation to the upper roller and the gear 37 being fixed to the axle of the lower roller 26. These gears have elongated teeth adapted to permit the rollers to be spread apart to the desired extent bystalks of fibrous material passing between the rollers in layers which vary mor or less in thickness. The lower is connected with a suitable source of power by means of a sprocket wheel 38 fixed to the shaft or axle v28 of said roller,-a sprocket wheel or gear 39 fixed toa main driving shaft 40K which extends transversely of and is journaled in suitable bearings 1]. in the main frame, and a sprocket chain or equivalent element 12 in engagement with the toothed sprocket wheels 38 and '39, and forming a connection betweenthe same. The main driving shaft 10 is pro vided with a driving wheel. or belt pulley 4L3 by means of which it is connected with a suitable source of power, such as an engine or motor,-not shown. mounted in position to support stalks or hemp or fibrous material in a suitable manner to permit the stalks to be fedbetween the feed rollers 25 and 26. and between the break-bars 12 and 18, or into position to extend it transversely across the break-bar mechanism. 0

The upper feed-roller 25 is provided with a flexible scraper 16. interposed between said roller and the adjacent break-bar 12; and the lower feed-roller 26 is provided with a similar scraper 47, arranged in relatively inverted position directly beneath the scraper l6 The.

A feed 'tabled l is and between the lower roller 26 and the lower break-bar 13.. These scrapers are supported at their opposite ends by suitable means adapted to permit the scrapers to be held in yielding frictional engagement with the rollers, and to permit the upper scraper to move with the upper roller 25 as the latter is raised or lowered with respect to the lower. roller. This may be accomplished in the manner shown in the drawings, by providing bell cranks 48 which are fixed to the op posite ends of the upper scraper 46, and pivotally supported by means of pivots 49, 4-9 which are anchored in suitable stationary supports, such, for instance, as the frame members 4t and 8, respectively. Springs 50 attached to the free ends of the bell cranks 48, and with one end attached to a stationary part of the frame, serve to yieldingly hold the scrapers L6 in yielding engagement with the roller 25. The scraper 417, which engages the lower roller 26 is provided with similar bell cranks 51 attached to its opposite ends and each pivotally supported by means of a pivot 52. anchored. in an adjacent stationary part of the main frame, and each bell crank 51 is provided with a spring 53 connected therewith and with the stationary main frame.

The scrapers above described serve to prevent the fibrous material from wrapping around the feed rollers.

Mounted directly back of and in substantially parallel relation to the lower breakbar 13 in position to co-act with the upper break-bar l2 and break and loosen shives or hurds of stalks extending transversely across and beneath the stalk-breaking edge 15 of said upper break-bar, is a set or series of pivoted non-invertible beater-bars 5st each of 1 which is pivotally connected at one end with a disleshaped rotator or wheel 55, and at its opposite end, with a somewhat similar disk-shaped rotator or wheel 56, said beaterbar supporting wheels or disks being located 1 near the opposite extremities of the breakbars androtatively supported by means of parallel. shafts or axles 57 and 58, respectively,.in position to enable the beater-bars above mentioned to be operated in such a 1 manner that each of the beater-bars is caused to travel in a circuit or path oblique to itself, all of said beater-bars being constantly in parallel relation to each other and in substantially parallel relation to the breaker- The axes of these pivots are parallel to the I shaft 57 and perpendicular to the face of the tion to the beater-bare11gag1ng face of the beater-bar supporting wheel 56, with which the opposite ends of each of said beater-bars is connected by means of a pivot pin 60 which is fixed to or formed integral with the beater-bar supported thereby. The pivots 60 are securely held in place in their bearings in the wheel 56 by means of suitable retaining nuts or collars 61 fixed to the ends of said pivots on the opposite side of the wheel from that engaged by the pivoted ends of the beater-bars; and the pivots 51) at the opposite ends ot'the beater-bars are securely held in place in their bearings in the wheel or disk by retaining collars or nuts -not shown-which may be of the same form as the retaining collars (31.. The retaining plate or collars 61 are, by preference, so constructed as to enable the pivots to be provided with suitable ball bearings, comprising antit'riction ballsnot shownarranged in position to encircle the pivots and afl'ord suitable bearings for the same. The ball hearings or antitriction bearings may be of any desired ordinary and well known form suitable for the purpose indicated, and it is therefore not deemed necessary or desirable to describe the same in greater detail.

The beater-bars 54 are, by preference, each so constructed as to comprise two relatively movable beater-bar members, namely, the main body portion to the opposite end portions 6st of which the pivots are attached, for pivotally connecting said main body portions or beater-bars proper with the beaterbar supporting wheel and a shoe or fiber-engagin outer bar member 65 which is mounted upon and in longitudinally movable relation to such main body portion. members (35 are by preference of angular construction, or in the form of an inverted U in cross-section, with the upper margin flattened so as to provide a fiber-engaging striking edge or margin 66 adapted to extend transversely across stalks of fibrous material which extend transversely across and beneath the bottom fiber-engaging edge 15 of the upper break-bar 12 in position to be broken'and scutched While being fed lengthwise of the stalks between the break bars and beater bars.

Each of the shoes 65 is provided with a projecting stud 71 thereon; and a detent or tripping member 72 is mounted in position to successively engage and retard and interrupt the movement of the bosses 71 and the beater-bar shoes to which they are at- These shoetached, at the momentwhen the shoes are moving into and actually in breaking contact with the stalks as the latter are passing lengthwise of the stalks between the fiber-engaging edge of a break bar and the corresponding shoesor beater bars.

Mounted directly back of and in substantially parallel relation to the upper break-bar 12, and in parallel relation to and in position to eo-act with the lower breakbar 13 and with the lower rotative beaterbars 65 above described, to break and scutch the stalks of hemp or other fibrous material fed into position to extend between said break-bars 13, is an upper set or series of pivoted non-invertible beater-bars 77, each of which is pivotally connected at one end with a beaterbar supporting rotator vor disk-shaped wheel '78, and at the other end, with a. disk-shaped beater-bar supporting rotator or wheel 79, said wheel '78 being fixed to a rotative shaft 80, and said wheel 7 being fixed to the end of a rotative shaft or axle 81. said shafts 8t) and 31V being in parallel relation to each other and 1n oblique relation to the beater-bars '77 and break-bar 13. The shaft is in the same vertical plane with the shaft 58 already described. and the shaft 81 is likewise, by preference, directly over and in the same vertical plane but at an'angle with respect to the shaft 57 already described,-the beater-bars T7 and 5 beinp normally horizontal and in parallel relation. The main body of each beater-bar '77 is provided at one end with a pivot 82 fixed thereto and mounted in a hearing or aperture in the wheel 78, and at the other end, with a similar pivot 83 mounted in a suitable bearing in an aperture in the wheel 79, the pivots 82 having their longitudinal. centers parallel with the axis of the shaft 80, and the pivots 83 havingtheir axial centers parallel with the axis of the shaft 31. Theshatt St) rotatively mountedv in a suitable hearing 84, upon or forming part otthe mainframe of the machine; and the shaft 81, is rotativcly mounted in a similarly inclined bearing 85 on or forming part of the opposite side of the main frame. (See Figs. 1, 2 and 3.)

Mounted upon and in longitudinally slidable relation to each upper beater-bar member 77 is an outer shoe member 86 which is held in position upon and in longitudinally slidable relation tosuch beater-bar member 77 by means of laterally projecting retaining pins or bosses'87, which project into and in sliding engagement with the walls of longitudinally elongated slots 88,

which are adapted to permitthe movement of the shoes longitudinally with respect to the main beater-bar members 77. Each of the upper beater-bars is provided at one end with a tension spring 89 which is connected at one end with the shoe member 86 and at the opposite end of said spring with the enlarged. end portion of the main body portion of such beater bar; and the opposite end of each of said .upper beater-bars is provided with a compression spring. 90, one end of which is connected with. said end. of the beater-bar shoe 86, and the other end of which is connected with the enlarged adjacent end portion 91 of'the main body portion of such upper beater-bar. Each upper beaterbar shoe member 86 is provided with a. laterally projecting boss or stud 92, which corresponds with the bosses 71 on the lower beater-bar shoe members already described, and is adapted to engage and to be released from engagement with a tripplng member or detent 93 which is secured in position on the upper break-bar 12, so as to trip and release the bosses 92 and thereby retardand interrupt the movement of the upper beaterbar shoe members 86 in the same mannerin which the detent 72 retards, interrupts and releases the bosses 71 and the lower-beaterbar shoe members 65 already described.

The upper beater bars 7 7 are securely held in pivotal relation to the rotators or heaterbar supporting wheels 7 8 and 7 9 by means of pivot pins 82-and 23 already described, the pivot pins 82 being rovided with retaining collars or nuts 9 fixed thereto 1n position to engage the back'of the wheel 78, and the pins 83, having collars of the same coi'istructionnot shown-fixed to the back end thereof and adapted to engage the back face of the wheel 79 in like manner. The shaft 80 is provided at its upper forward end with a retaining collar 98 fixed thereto and adapted to engage the bearingS, so as to hold the shaft in place in its "bearing;

and the shaft 81 is provided at its rear lower end with a similar retaining collar 99 fixedthereto and adapted to engage the bearing 85 so as to hold said shaft inoperative position in its bearing. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) The driving mechanism for operatively connectin and driving the upper and lower sets of pivoted beater-bars and their rota- I tors or beater-bar supporting wheels. is

constructed as follows: Mounted upon and in fixed relation to the lower beater-bar siup tiorting wheel or rotator 56 is a toothed bevel gear or gear ring member 100, which is thus operatively connected in fixed re lation to the shaft 58, already described, said shaft being rotatively mounted in a suitable bearing 101 in the main frame.

(See Figs. 1 and Q.) Mounted upon and in fixed relation to the upper beater-bar suppoi-tinnwheel 78, and thereby operatively dimensions with said gear. member 100.

Said gears are therefore adapted to have. the

same speed of rotation. A toothed bevel gear member 103 is mounted. in fixed conthus operatively connected with and in fixed relation to-t-he shaft 57 already described,

said shaft being rotatively mounted in a Suitable inclined bearing 10st in the main frame and directly beneath and in the same ')erpendicular plane with the shaft 81 already described; (fdee Figs. 1, 2 and 3.) Mounted "upon fixed relation to the upper beatersbar supporting;- wheel 79 already described, and in fixed concentric relation to the shaft 81 is a toothed bevel gear wheel orlmember 105 which is in toothed engagement with the bevel gear wheel 103. Said beveled gear wheels 103 and 105 are ofthe same construction and dimensions, and are therefore adapted to have the same speed of rotation, their speed of rotation being: the same as that of the wheels 100 and 102 already described. (See Figs. 1, and The shaft 58 and its beater-bar supporting wheel 56 are op'eratively connected with the main driving shaft &0, already de scribed, by means of a shaft 106 rotat-ively mounted in a bearing 107 in the main frame, a toothed bevel gear wheel 108 fixed to the shaft 58 and in toothed engagement with a similar bevel gear wheel 109 fixed to the shaft 106, a toothed bevel gear Wheel 1 10 fixed to the opposite end of the shaft 106, and in toothed engagement with a toothed bevel gear wheel 111 which is fixed to the main driving shaft 10. (See Figs. 1,

and 8.)

in wheel 55 and gear 103 are operatively connected with the main driving shaft 40. or source ofpower, bymeans of a shaft 112 which is rotatively mouuitedv in a bearing 113 in the main frame, a toothed bevel gear wheel. 114C fixed'to the end of the shaft 57 and" adapted to hold said shaft against endwise movement in its bearing. said gear wheel 11 1- being in toothed engagement with a toothed bevel gear wheel 115 fixed to one end of the shaft 112, a. toothed. bevel gear wheel 116 fixed to the opposite end of the shaft 112, and a toothed bevel gear wheel 117 fixed to the main driving shaft 410 and. in toothed engagement with the gear 116.

The pivoted beater bars located. above the level of the top fiber-engaging edge of the lower break barare thus adapted to be rotated or driven in a. circuit which is oblique to the longitudinalcenters of said heater bars, and are caused to move downward past the fiber engaging upper edge of said lower break-bar in such a manner as to engage the upper side of the stalks or layer of hemp or fibrous material to be operated upon. so as to break the shives or hurds and loosen them from. the fibers, and so as to have a scutchin; movement in a direction longitudinally of the stalks, such scutching movement being an uninterrupted continuation of the movement-by means of which the breaking was effected, but in a direction away from the fiber engaging edge of the lower l neak-bar and with the upper pivoted beater bars in such relation to the lower l' eater-bars as to come between the latter in successive order. and in such a manner that the upper and lower beater bars are caused to pass longitudinally along and in scutching engagement with opposite. or top and bottom sides of the fibrous material simultaneously while the stalks are being fed endwise between and transversely with respect to the upper and lower break-bars and between the upper and lower sets of pivoted beater-bars. By setting the beater-bar supporting wheels and their supporting shafts at the proper oblique angle with re spect to the longitudinal centers of the beater-bars and with respect'to the break bars, the-length and extent of the scutchmg movement of the rotative beater-bars may be caused to be in just the right proportion to the speed and force of the striking movement, so that the fibrous material will be properly scutched and cleaned without unnecessary breaking or injury of the fibers.

In order to provide simple and eflicient means for removing such shives orv hurds from the fibers as may remain in the material passing from between the pivoted beaterbars, I provide a rotary beater mechanism which is located rearward with respect to the pivotedbeater-bars already described, and which comprises in its construction a drum or frame which is by preference of cylindrical form consisting of a pair of opposite end rings or drum heads 1'18, 118 fixed to a shaft 119 which is journaled at its opposite extremities in suitable bearings 120, 120 in the main frame, said shaft being operatively connected with the main driving shaft 40, already described, by means of a sprocket wheel 121 fixed to the main driving shaft, a similar toothed sprocket wheel 122 fixed to the shaft 119, and a sprocket chain 123 mounted upon and forming a connection between said sprocket wheels. The end rings or'drum head members 118 of the drum orcylindrical frame on the shaft 119 are rigidly connected by means of suitable longitudinal peripheral connecting members or ribs 124, the opposite ends of which are rigidly mounted in said rings or heads and adapted to form a strong, comparatively light, and rigid frame. These ribs may be in the form of peripheral rods having their opposite ends inserted into and riveted or otherwise firmly connected with the rings.

A multiplicity of peripheral flail-like circumferentially disposed beater blades or arms 125 are pivotally mounted in staggered relation to each other upon the periphery of the drum 126, with which they are pivotally connected by means of a plurality of longitudinal peripheral.rock-shafts 127, the opposite ends of which are rotatively mounted in suitable bearings in the end rings or drum head members 118.

A plurality of thesecircumferential flail like blades are fixed to each of these rock shafts 127 so as to rock or swing outward and inward as the shafts are rocked or partially rotated upon their axes during the rotation of the drum upon its axis, which is parallel with the axes of the rock shafts each of which thus forms a rocking axle for its .set or series of flail-like blades or arms 125. The leading ends of the blades 125 be ing thus pivotally connected with the drum, and the blades being so arranged that each extends rearward with respect to the direction of movement of the periphery ofthe drum and of the blades, it is plain that the action of centrifugal force will tend to cause the free rearward ends of the blades to swing outward circumferentially, as the drum with its peripheral blades or arms, is rotated, the normal direction of rotation being such that the upper'half of the drum or frame moves rearward and carries the flail-like arms therewith. In order to provide means for positively rocking the flaillike blades and the rock shafts with which they are connected, in such a manner as to cause the blades, during their upward and rearward movement,to strike and pass upwardand rearward in scutching engagement with and be between the fibers in the layers of fibrous material passing from the rotative longitudinal beater-bars already described, so as'to separate the fibers and remove the shives or hurds therefrom, each of the rockshafts 127 is provided with one or more crank arms 128'fixed thereto, I prefer to em ploy one crank arm'to each endof each rock shaft, each crank arm'having a crank pm 129 at its out extremity in positionito extend into and in operative engagement with an adjacent cam 130, having a continuous cam groove 131 which is in eccentric relation to the axis of the drum, the circumferential walls of said cam groove being-of such form as to operatively engage the crank pins, which may be provided with anti-friction sleeves or rollers 132 encircling the crank pins and rotatively supported between and in engagement with the walls of the cam slot, so thatrthe pivoted blades supported by the rock shafts will move outward circumferentially and upward during the upward and rearward movement of the rock shafts with which they are connected, and inward immediately preceding the beginning of such upward and outward move ment of the blades on their axes formed by i :11

inns 139 in the machine-frame.

the rock shafts with which they are connected.

Although more or less satisfactory results may be accomplished with a machine having but one cam, and one set of crank arms to be operated by means of such cam, I prefer to employ two fixed cams, one at each end of the drum, and each in positionto operatively engage and operate an adjacent crank arm secured to the corresponding ends of the rock shali'ls. The flail-like blades or flail arms are so disposed that those on any given rock shaft are in staggered relation to those on the next adjacent rock shafts, through out the entire clrcumference ol' the drum or rotary flu il-arm supporting frame.

li'ionnted in position to extend over and rearwzd with respect to the drum and the flail-arms thereon, is a series of stationary curred ribs 138, each of which partially encircles the drum or relative flail-arni sup- POllEiIlg frame in. such a position that the pivoted llail-arms will extend across the space between said ribs and the periphery of the drum in position to pass between the ribs during the movement of the flail-arms rearward, upon the rearvardly moving upper hall of the drum. There is a suflicient number of these curved stationary ribs so that each of the flail-arms is enabled to pass between a pair of such ribs while in engage ment with and in position-to pass between and longitudinally of the fibers passing 'over the flail mechanism and between the pe 1 riphery ol the fla1l-arm supporting frame or drum and saidribs.

An endless conveyor belt 134;, which is provided with a multiplicity of fil er-engaging bosses or studs 135 thereon, is arranged. horizontally at the rear or discharge side of the rotary flail-arm mechanism, in position to receive and carry away. the fibrous mate rial cleaned. by the mechanism above described. This conveyor belt may be sup ported by means of ordinary cylindrical. rollers 135, only one of which is shown. (See Fig. The beltsupportinp; roller 86 shown in Fig. 3, is supported upon a shaft 136 which is journaled in suitable bearings in the :lrame. ti rely mounted overand in engagement with the top side of the feed belt and in parallel relation to the roller 135, and supported by means ol an idler shaft 138 the opposite ends of which are ournaled in suitable bear- A concave scutrhinu shield or scutchinp; concave 140 is provided and mounted in position to extend downward. and forward in front of the forsurface in position to support the last extremities of the fibers to pass into position A feed roller 13'? is rota-- This to be carried across said scutching concave and onto the carrier belt 134, in such a manner that the flail-arms will strike and clean the fibers while they are held by the apron 134- and roller 137 and caused to pass over and across said scutching concave in position to be cngaged'and scutched and cleaned by the flail arms as they pass in close proximity to the scutching concave.

, A lower main conveyor belt or apron 142 is mounted in position to extend beneath the fiber-treating mechanism above described, and from a point directly below the break bars to and beyond the rear extremity of the machine, said belt being mounted at its forward extremity. upon a driving roller 14:3 fixed to a supporting shaft 1414. A helical conveyor 141-5, is mounted in a discharge chute 141-6 which is located at the rear extremities of the parallel. longitudinally extending curved ribs in position to extend, transversely across the machine and receive the hurds or shives and to and waste material thrown out between said ribs by the action of the tlail-arms. This conveyor may be of any desired ordinary or suitable form,

but when constructed as shown in the drawings, consists of a rod bent into the helical form of a cork-screw having an end axle portion 14;? which may be made in one integral piece with the helical part of the conveyor,

' and journaled in a suitable bearing 148 in the machine frame. This conveyor is adapted to rotate in a direction necessary to discharge material from the end of the chute opposite to that at which the axle is located,

and isopcratively connected with the shaft 15 3 on. the axle 147 and a sprocket chain 164 mounted upon HTIClCODIICCtIDg said sprockets. The ribs 133 and chute 146 are covered and enclosed bymeans oi? a sheet metal casing 155, the rearextremity of which is con: nccted with the chute, and the tlorward extremity of which extends to or forward be 'yond the forward extremities of said ribs,

and is supported by a transverse :lramegmember 156 which also serves to support the .il orward ends of the series ofrlbs 133, and

to brace and strengthen the machine t 'ame. An upper intermediate feed roller 157 and .a lower intermediate feed roller 158 may be interposed between the rotative beater-bar mechanism comprising upper beater-bars 77 and lower beater bars 54, and the rotative drum and flail-arm mechanism, said intermediate feed rollers being suit-able for receiving the fibrous material passing from said rotative beater-bar mechanism to said drum and flail-arm mechanism, to prevent the fibrous material from being released too soon or before being caught and properly held and fed rearward. by the rear carrier apron 134 and roller 137. The bottom roller 1.58 is fixed to a shaft 159 which is journaled in suitable bearings 160 in the machine frame; and the upper roller 157 is fixed to a shaft 161. journaled at its opposite ends in sliding bearing blocks 162 which are mounted in slidable engagement with and in position to move upward and downward between upright ways 163, on opposite sides of the machine frame. Compression springs 164 in engagement with the upper sides of said bearing blocks, and held at the desired tension by means of tension screws 165 in threaliled engagement with screw-supporting and retaining plates 166 serve to yieldingly hold the bearing blocks in position and permit the upward movement of the upper roller 157 toward and from the lower roller 155 as the condition of the fibrous material may require. In practice I find it desirable to have the last mentioned rollers sufficiently.

and in toothed engagement with the gear The shaft 150 of the roller 158 is operatively connected with the shaft 119, so as to be driven by the latter, by means of a sprocket wheel 169 fixedto the shaft 159, a

sprocket wheel 170 fixed to the shaft 119, and a sprocket chain 171 mounted upon and connecting said sprockets. The shaft 144 of the roller 143 which supports the forward extremity of the discharge conveyor 142, is operatively connected with the drive shaft 40 by means of a sprocket wheel 172 fixed to the shaft 144, a sprocket wheel 173 fixed to the shaft 40, and a sprocket chain 17 4 mounted upon and connecting said sprocket wheels.

By providing each of the pivoted flail-t like arms 125 with lateral ribs or serrations 175 on each side of each of said arms and in position to engage the fibrous material through which the said flail arms are caused to pass, shives or hurds which have been broken and loosened or partially loosened from the fibers will be dislodged from engagement with the fibers and thrown out from between them and between the spaced curved or concave scutching ribs 133 and into the chute 146 to be carried away by the screw conveyor 145, or other suitable discharge device. The ribs 133 are so constructed and spaced apart as to extend partly around the drum or rotative beaten arm-supporting frame adjacent to the periphery of the latter and in position to prevent the fibrous material operated upon from passing out between said ribs, but to permit the shives or hurds and some tow or short fibers and waste material to pass out between the ribs and into the discharge chute 146. The fibers passing along between the ribs 133 and the flail-like beater arms 125, how

ever, are flexed by the latter and caused. to move rearward in contact with the ribs 133 and between said ribs and in contact with the flail-like arms, until the fibrous material is caught up by the rear carrier belt 13-1, and. still further scutchcd and cleaned between the flail-like beater arms 125 and the scutch ing concave 140 which is a rrangcd adjacent to the periphery of the llail-arm-supporting drum or frame 126.and extends from end to end of the same. (See Figs. 1 and 3.)

From the foregoing description it is plain that a machine having only one break-bar used in connection with one co-acting series of pivoted beater-bars, or with two series of co-acting pivoted beater-bars adapted to admit stalks between the adjacent stalkbreaking edge'of such stationary break-bar and the pivoted beater-bars in such a manner as to cause the stalks to be broken and scutched by the pivoted beater-bars, and between such stationary break-bar and the coacting pivoted beater bars, will operate with more or less satisfactory results; but that, by employing two series of pivoted beaterbars adapted to admit stalks therebetween the stalks are engaged on opposite sides, and may be in simultaneous engagement with one or more pivoted beater bars of both series, the beater-bars coming into contact with the fibrous material on opposite sides of the same alternately and in such a manner as to cause the fibrous material to be broken against the upper and lower breakbars alternately, in case a plurality of sta tionary break-bars are employed. It is also plain thatthe rear rotative beater mechanism consisting of the flail-arms and their rotative supporting frame or drum, and the curved stationary scutching ribs arranged adjacent to and in position to co-act with the flail-arms are adapted to be used in connection with any suitable means for break- .ing or breaking and scutching the stalks or fibrous material prior to subjecting the mavother and adapted to extend transversely with respect to the path of movement of the fibrous material to be operated upon in combination with rotative beatermechanism comprising a series of flail-like pivoted beater-arms pivotally connected with the periphery of a rotative supporting frame or drum and having a movement in a direction parallel with or in the same direction with the path of movement of the fibrous material to be operated upon, or at an angle to the longitudinal centers of the parallel pivoted non-invertible beater-bars.

I claim: v 1. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a rotative beater-supporting frame, a series of beater arms each having pivotal connection with said rotative supporting frame, the axes of said pivoted beaterarms beingin substantially parallel relation to the axis of said supporting frame,

a scutching member mounted adjacent. to said rotative beater-arnrsupporting frame and adapted to admit fibrous material between the pivoted, beater arms and said scutching member, to be scutched and cleaned, stalk-breaking mechanism, for-breaking stalks of fibrous material to be scutched and cleaned between said beater arms and'said adjacent scutching member, means for feedmg stalks into position to be operated upon by sald beater arms, and means for operat ing said. stalk breaking mechanism and said rotative beater-arm supporting frame.

2. In a machine for treating fibrous ma terial, the combination .of a rotative beaterarm-supporting frame mounted insuitable bearings, a series of beater-arms each having its leading end pivotally connected with the peripheral portion of said rotative sup porting frame, the axes of said pivoted arms being in substantially parallel relation to the axis of the rotative supporting frame, the main body of each of said pivoted arms being arranged in position to extend out 3. In a machine for treating-fibrous ma terial, the combination of a rotative beater arm-supporting frame mounted in suitable bearings, a series of beater-armseach having its leading end pivotally connected with the peripheral portion of said rotative supporting frame, the main body of each of said pivoted arms being arranged in position to extend outward from its axis and backward with respect to the direction of rotation of said rotative supporting frame, a series of stationary scutehing ribs each mounted adjacent to and in position to extend circumferentially with respect to the rotative beaterarm-supporting frame, and adapted to permit the passage of fibrous material between said beater arms and said stationary ribs, to be scutched by the beaterarms, said ribs being spaced apart, to permit the passage of waste material therebetween, means for feeding fibrous material into position to pass between the pivoted beater-arms and the adjacent stationary ribs,

said pivoted beater-arms being arranged in position to extend outward from its axis and backward at an angle with respect to the direction of rotation of such beater-arms and rotative supporting frame, a series of stationary scutching ribs each mounted adjacent to and in position to extend circnmferentially with respect to said rotative supporting frame, and adapted to permit the passage of fibrous material between said beaterarms and said stationary ribs, to be scutched by the beater-arms, said ribs being spaced apart and adapted to permit the passage of waste material therebetween, and having inner fiber-engaging edges adapted to guide fibrous material along the inner sides of said ribs, and in position to be engaged by said pivoted beater-arms means for rocking bearings, a series of beatenarms each llttV' ing its leading eiid pivotally connected with theperipheral portion of said rotative supporting frame, a series of-stationary scutch ing ribs mounted adjacent to saidpivoted beater-arms and adapted to' admit fibrousmaterial between the pivoted beater-arms and said ribs, to be scutched by the beaterarms, said ribs being spaced apart and arm-supporting frame mountedin suitable bearings, a series of beater-arms each having its leading end pivotally connected with the pivotal portion of said rotative supporting frame, the main body of each of said pivoted beater-arms being arranged in pasiton to extend outward from its axisand backward at an angle with respect to the direction of rotation of such beater-armsand rotative su'pportin frame, a seriesof stationary scutching ribs each mounted adjacent to and in position to extend circumferentially with respect to said rotative supporting frame, and adapted to permit the passage of fibrous material between said beater arms and said stationary ribs, to be scutched by the beater-arms, said ribs being spaced apart and adapted to permit the passage of waste material therebetween, and

having inner fiber-engaging edges adated to engage and guide fibrous material a ong the inner sides of said ribs and in position to be engaged by said pivoted beater-arms, means for feeding material'to be operated upon in position to pass between the pivoted beater-arms and the adjacent stationary ribs,- means for rocking the beater-arms upon their axes, and means for operating the rotative 'beater-arm-supporting frame.

7. In a machine for treating brous material, the combination of a rotative beaterarm-supporting frame mounted in suitablebearings, a series of peripheral rock-shafts each rockingly mounted in said rotative vframe and in substantially parallel relation to the axis of the latter, a beater-arm fixed to each of said rock-shafts, the main body of each of said beater-arms being arranged in position to extend outward from the axis of the rock-shaftwith whichit is connected and backward with respect to the direction of rotation of the beater-arms. and said rotative supporting frame, means for rocking the rock-shafts upon their axes, means for feeding fibrous material into positionto be operated upon by said beater-arms, and means for operating the rotative beater-armsupporting frame.

8. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a rotative beaten arm-supporting frame mounted. in suitable bearings, a series of peripheral rock-shafts each rockingly mounted upon said rotative frame and in substantially parallel relation to the axis -of said frame, a plurality of beater-arms fixed to each of said rock-shafts, the main body of-each of said beater-arms bein arranged in position to extend outwar from the rook-shaft with which itis connected and backwardwith respect to the direction of rotation of the beater-arms and said rotative supporting frame, means for rocking the rock-shafts upon their axes, a concave seutching member mounted inposition to admit material to be operated upon between said concave scutching memberand: the pivotedbeater-arms of said rookshafts, andmeans foroperating the rotative beater-arm-supporting frame.

9. Inamachine for treating fibrous material, the combination of arotative beaterarm-Supporting frame mounted in suitable bearings, a; series of peripheral roek'shafts each rockingl mounted in said frame and a in substantial y parallel relation to the axis of the same, apluralitv of peripheral beaterarmsfixed to each of sai rock-shafts, the main body of'each ofsaid beater-arms being arranged in osition to extend outward fromthe rock-sha t with which itisconnected and backward with respect to the directionofrotation of the beater-arms and said rotativesu pporting frame, a series of stationary sou-telling ribs mounted adjacent to said beater-arms and adapted to ermit the passage of material to be operate between said beater-arms and said stationary scutching. ribs, said scutch ing ribs beingspaced apartand adapted to permitthe passage of waste material-thereetween, and having inner fiber-engaging edges adapted to engage and guide fibrous material along the inner surfaces of said ribs and in position to be engaged by said beater-arms, means for rocking the: rockshafts uponvtheir axes, and means forrotat-- ing the rotative beaterarm supporting frame. 7

10. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a rotative boaterarm-supportingframe mounted in suitable bearings, a series of'peripheral rock-shafts each rockingly mounted f in said rotative frame. and in substantially parallel relation to the. axis of the same, a beater-arm-fixed to-each of said rock-.shafts,ethe main body of'each of said beaterarmsbeing arranged in position to extend outward from the axis of the rock-shaft with which it. is, connected and baekwardawithirespect vto the direction of rotation of the beater-arms and said rotative supportingiframe, crank-and cam mechanism operatively connected with the rockshafts, for rocking the same upon their axes, means for supportin fibrous material in position to be engage and scutched by said beater-arms, and means for rotating the rotative supporting frame.

11. 'In a machine for treatingfibrous ma terial, the combination of a rotative beaterarm-supporting frame mounted in suitable bearings, a series of peripheral rock-shafts each rockingly mounted. in said rotative frame and in substantially parallel relation to the axis of the same, beater-arms fixed-to said rock-shafts, the main body of each of said beater-arms being arranged in position to extend outward from the axis of the rockshaft with which it is connected and back ward with respect to the direction of rotation of the beater-arms and said rotative supporting frame, a crank fixed to each rock-shaft, respectively, a stationary cam in operative engagement with said crank mechanism, for rocking the rock-shafts, means for supporting fibrous material in position to be engaged and scutched by said beaterarms, and means for rotating said rotative supporting frame.

12. In a machine for" treating fibrous material, the combination of a rotative beaterarm-supporting frame mounted in suitable bearings, a series of peripheral rock-shafts each rockingly mounted in said rotative supporting frame and in substantially parallel relation to the axis of the same, beater-arms fixed to said rock-shafts, the main body of each of said beater-arms being arranged in position to extend outward from the axis of the rock-shaft with which it is connected and backward with respect to the direction of rotation of the beater-arms and said rotative supportlng frame, a crank fixed to each rock-shaft, a stationary cam mounted upon a suitable support and in operative engagement with said crank mechanism, for rocking the rock-shafts, means for support ing fibrous material in position to be engaged and scutched by said beater-arms, feeding means adapted to feed fibrous mate rial into position to pass between said fibersupporting means and said beater-arms, and means for rotating the rotative supporting frame. I

13. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a rotative beaterarmsnpporting frame mounted in suitable bearings, a series of peripheral rock-shafts each rockingly mounted in said rotative supporting frame and in substantially parallel relation to the axis of the same, beater-arms fixed to said rock-shafts, cranks fixed to the opposite ends of each rock-shaft, stationary said beater-arms adapted to admit material to be operated upon by the beater-arms, said scutching ribs being spaced apart and adapted to admit th outer extremities of the ad jacent beater-arms therebetween, means for feeding material to be operated upon in position to be operated upon by the beaterarins, means for discharging the material, anclmeans for rotating the rotative supporting frame. Y i

14. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a rotative beaterarm-supporting frame mounted in suitable bearings, a series of peripheral rock-shafts each rockingly mounted in said rotative frame and in substantially parallel relation to the axis of the same, beater-arms fixed to said rock shafts, the main body of each of said beater-arms being arranged in position to extend outward from the axis of the rockshaft with which it is connected and back ward with respect to the direction of rotation of the beater-arms and said rotative supporting frame, crank and cam mechanism operatively connected with the rockshafts, for rocking the same upon their axes, stationary concave scutching means extending over the rotative supporting frame and adapted to engage fibrous material passing over the said frame and the beater-arms supported by said frame, carrier mechanism mounted in position to engage and feed rearward material passing out from between said stationary concave scutching means and said rotative supporting frame, a rear stationary concave fiber-supporting member mounted intermediate the rotative supporting frame and said carrier and adapted'to support fibrous material engaged by said carrier in position to be engaged and scutched by said beater-arms, and means for rotating the beater-arm-supporting frame.

15. In a machine for treating fibrous material, the combination of a rotative beaterarm-supporting frame mounted in suitable bearings, a series of peripheral rock-shafts each rockingly mounted in said rotative frame and in substantially parallel relation to the axis of the same, beater-arms fixed to said rock-shafts, the main body of each of said beater-arms being arranged in position to extend outward from the axis of the rock-shaft with which it is connected and backward with respect to the direction of rotation of said rotative supporting frame, means for rocking the rock-shafts upon their axes, stationary concave scutching means located adjacent to and in position to extend over said rotative supporting frame and adapted to engage and permit the passage of fibrous material over said frame and between said beater-arms and said stationary concave scutching means, means for feeding material into position to pass between said stationary concave scutching means and said beater-arms, carrier mechanism mounted rearward with respectto said rotative supporting frame and adaptedito engage and feed rearward material discharged from between said stationary concave scutching means and said rotative supporting frame, a rear stationary concave fiber-supporting member mounted adjacent to the discharge side of said rotative supporting frame and adapted to support fibrous material engaged by saidrearwardly mounted carrier and in position to enable the said fibrous-material to be engaged and scutchedby said beaterarms, and means for rotating the beaterarm-supporting fname.

WILLIAM A. SHELY.

\Vitnesses HARRY I. CRoMnR, WV. HARDING.

Signed at Chicago, Il1inois,VJu.ne 5th,, 

